The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-11-09

the stcrn lacIS which he presented 10 US
made an impression upon my mild which
will not soon be eifaced. Alas that he Is
not here with us to congratulate the good
citizens OF Memphis upon the favorable
change which has occurred in their sanitary
surroundings since the date OF which we are
speaking.
Santarans recognize the fact that epidcm-
les are often blessings in disguise, just as
great fires may be in badly built cities Ger
tainly not blessing for those who suffer di-
rectly from the scourge; but the traveller who
sees broad and well paved streets, substantial
and well ventilated dwellings, and q healthy
looking population, where formerly narrow,
filthy streets and ctpwded tenement houses
occupied the ground may be excused for
looking upon the conilagration which cleared
the way for such improvements as blessing.
So, too, sanitarians, recognizing the fact that
in many instances nothing short OF an cpl
demic will arouse the people to take action
with reference to sanitary improvements,
cannot fail TO see that the benefits which re-
suit from an epidemic of cholera, or of yellow
| fever, in the long run may more than com
| pcnsate for the distress and loss of life which
attends them. A cholera epidemic which
dccmatcs the population Of n town without
sewers or proper water supply will prove a
blessing in the end II II leads TO the intro
| duction OF an ample supply OF pure water
and Of n system Of sewerage by which the
mortality from typhoid fever and other cpl
demic diseases is greatly reduced. But this
mode of obtaining sanitary Improvements Is
an expensive one, and rather hard on the
victims of the epidemic.
The members of this association, therefore,
| actuatod by a humanitarian spirit, desire to
secure these benefits for every town in this
broad land, il possible, in advance Of the
scourge which is sure 10 come some day II
their warning and the lessons of past expert
ence do not suffice to arouse the inhabitants
Of insantary towns 10 a sense OF the risks
they run. II is remarkable fact that in
matters Of this kind individuals and corpo-
rntions are slow 10 profit by the experience OF
| Others and that IL is commonly only when
the fatal results Of neglect are brought under
their immediate observation that they are
ready to apply the remedy, which Is neces-
sarily more or less expensive. We all re-
member how promptly the people of Mem
| phis responded when the epidemic stimulus
was applied, and we have heard much Of the
sanitary Improvements which have been
made In this city since the memorable year
| 1873. Many Of is are here for the first time,
| and, rs | have said, this meeting possesses
| special interest for US because II enables US
| 10 see for ourselves what has been done in
order to put Memphis in state of defense
in the event of another yellow fever epidemic
| IN the MISSISSIPPI Nalloy.
DO not allow yourselves 20 fall into a state
of inaction and false security because for sew
cral years our foe has been kept at bay. Al
though IL is now evident that yellow fever
Is not epidemic in any portion OF our land,
/ and we have learned by recent experience
that by proper measures IL II possible 10
/ exclude il for series OF years, even from the
! city OF New Orleans, yet there are so many
possibilities OF its introduction, in spite Of
| the vigilance OF those who have charge Of the
gateway Of the Mississippi valley, that IL
would be folly TO neglect those local meas
urcs OF sanitation which remove the yulncr-
ability of cities in the presence ofthc germs of
pcstilcntiHl diseases. shutting the door * OF
| prime importance, and while the keys nre In
| the hands of our energetic and able col
| league, Dr. Holt we may feel comparatively
safe. but the efficient president OF the
| Louisiana State board OF health cannot guar
anty that all avenues OF approach are
/ securely guarded, inasmuch as some of these
avenues are quite beyond his control. This
| i cxcmplifyd by the Biloxi epidemic Of 1885.
| Local outbreaks such ~ that at Biloxi, aud
| the epidemic nj Key West and at Tampa
/ during the present year, show that the condi-
! lions upon our gull coast are no less fayora-
/ bic Ia the presence OF yellow fever than they
were In former years aud that ourlmmunity
| depends solely upon the exclusion Of an eX-
oiic germ. Unfortunately, also, the Biloxi
! epidemic illustrates the very greatest liabil-
! ity Of physicians TO fall into error with refer
cncc ~ the diagnosis when yellow fever I'M
/ cNpcctcdly makes its appearance outside Of
/ it, habitunl range. History repeats itself In
| this particular. The early cases IN an cpl
/ idcmic whichnp often laihi, are pronounced
| 90 be mhllrim fever and this diagnosis Is
often sustained by those who have commit
ted thcmnly 10 it, when no reasonable
doubt remains In the minds Of unpreiudiccd
! physicians rs 10 the true nature Of the NAL.
adv.
The question whether Il Is practicable to
make city, which lies In the area subject Ia
| invasion, proof against cpidcmic- Of yellow
| fever and cholera IN one 81 very great inn
! pOrtancc. At the International sanitary
conference Of Rome the delegates from
England and from India opposed all quaan.
tine restrictions u.s. unnecessary, and pointed
10 the fact that Tor years there has been con.
slant aud free communication between
cholera infested ports iu ludiannd the seaport
cities of England. but that cholera has not IL.
| cctcd n Judgment inthat country d.. ThornC
! Thornc, 81 the local government board, q
| delegate IN the conference, nscribcd this i'm.
munity 10 the sanitary improvements which
| have been carried out In England during the
/ past ten or twelve years. lie stated that,
| during tie period included between the
| years 1873 aud 1854, an amount exceeding
/ siX and onc-quaricr millions sterling per
annum had been expended In England
! "undrr private and public acts mainly of a
! sanitary character" DR. Thorne Th0ruc, In
] his report Of the proceeding OF the confer.
! cnCc referred 10. SAYS
! Lastly, would note that took occasion
! 90 explain 10 the technical commission that
! expenditure such ~ have referred Ia, are,
! with only very trivial exceptions, voluntarily
incurred In the Interests Of public health.
II then went on 10 show, IN connection
! with this expenditure that the average an.
nual mortality for England and Wales was
/ now only loas opposed 10 - per 1000 In
| the dcCCnnill period iSGl-iO and this not
! outstanding Increase IN population Of some
| bWD,O00i aud taking the continued fever
mortality Of this country M that which, in
| point Of cauliion, most nearly rcscmblcd
| cholera, pointed ont that whereas. IN the
/ five years. $1,000. this mortality was at the
rate OF 03i per 100000 living ID bad steadily
| fallen 90 i2S per 100000 during the period
lSSO-S2, and that II is now only 3J7 per
| 1000, 900"
In later communication, published In
/ the Practitioner inrOCtobcr, 1857 DR.. Thorne
| Thornc gives fuller details Of the English
system of protection against cholera or FOL.
lows. "lfaving deliberately abandoned the
system Of quarantine, We began many years
ago 90 organize the system of medical inspcc-
ton with isolation. The medical inspection
comes lirt into operation on our coasts. The
customs officers board the vessel coming into
our port and they 90 once communicate 10
the sanitary authority the occurrence Of any
case of cholera, cholcmic diarrhca, or sus.
pccicd cholera. A vessel 20 affected Is de.
inincd until the medical officer Of health
has examined every member ~ the crew
and passengers. Those actually sick of
cholera or cholcraic diarrhca are at once re-
moved 10 the port sanitary hospital, aud any
person certified to be suffering from any NJ
ness which that officer suspects may
provo 90 be the cholera Is dc.